Thursday, 3 March 2016

Puri Jagannath temple - 20 astonishing facts

India is a land of mixed cultures, following different faiths, cults, rituals, etc., and is home to several huge Hindu temple complexes. The Hindus form the majority and they provide space for other faiths as well to interact. In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, there are huge Hindu temples mainly made of hard stones (mostly granite related hard rocks) built by the dynasties of Cholas, Chera, Pandya and Pallava. The Nayaks of Andhra and their resident representatives made valuable contributions towards temple contsructions in Tamil Nadu- Madurai, Trichy, Thanjavur, Thriuvannmlai districts,etc.The Srirangam temple complex near Trichy city is the largest functional temple complex in the world - covering a total area of more than 200 acres. The Big temple at Thanjavur (a UNESCO Heritage Monument) built more than 1000 years ago is a well known structure for its unique design and architectural beauty. The entire temple is made of granite stone with artistically carved images of gods and goddesses on the tall tower. The temple Tank Kamalayalyam, part of Thiruvarur Sri Thiagarajar temple complex is, perhaps, is the largest temple tank in India. Like wise its chariot-rath is the tallest and heavest one in India.The temple at Rameswaram has the longest prakara (path way around the shrine) in the world made of hard stone.

The Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple at Thiruvanantha Puram, Kerala is a famous one and is the richest temple in the world (temple owns jewelry, etc., worth more than $ 25 billion (without adding antique value pluscontents in the last safenot yet valued). TirupatiSri Balaji temple is the most famous and busiest one, besides being one of the richest temples in the world. Udipi temple in Karnataka is unique in its own way. So are the temples of Badrinath, Kedarnath in the north and Somnath temple of Gujarat.

The sprawlingJagannath temple at Puri,Odisha (Orissa) is the busiest temple in India and has numerous small temples within the temple complex. It has the uniquedistinction of having the largest kitchen in the world, serving food to more than 80,000 devotees each day. Unlike other Hindu temples of India, here the Maha Prasada (divine food offering to god) is always available for the visiting devotees. Without the help of a guide or temple priest it is difficult to visit this temple, considering its sheer size and a huge sea of humanity within the temple precincts. This temple is also more than 1000 years old. The tradition of yearly Rath Yatra - Chariot procession of three deities - Lord Krishna (Jagannath), Balarama and Subhadrais being followed for centuries without a break. There is a replica of Jagannath temple in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telengana.

The following are the fascinating facts about this large functional temple in Orissa (Odisha):01. Puri temple was built by the ruler of Kalinga Anantavarman Chodaganga Dev. Part of temple Jaganmohna and the Vimana date back to (1078 – 1148). Ananga Bhima Dev in 1174 AD was responsible for the present structure and plan of Puri temple.

The vimana of the main temple.en.wikipedia.org

02. The images of Lord Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra are believed to have been prepared by Lord Vishnu and Vishwakarma themselves from the log disguising as artistes.

03. Un-touchability is not entertained on the temple premises. No caste, creed distinctions, etc.

04. The common offering to the deities here is Kitchadi, a kind of food served only in earthen pot. Any body can make the offering to the Gods here.

05. Puri Temple is spread over an area of approximately 400,000 square feet circled by a high-fortified 20 feet high wall.

06. Three are as many as 120 shrines / mini temples within the huge temple complex. There are four parts in the complex :Bhogmandir, Natamandir, Jagamohana and DeulJagamohana is meant for worshipping.

07. There are over 6,000 priests with over 14,000 people serving as assistants and attendants of the priests, besides temple guides.

08. June or July every year is the time of centuries old tradition-bound famous Rath Yatra procession of Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra.

09. The three deities are symbols of Samyak Darshan, Samyak Jnana and Samyak Charita usually called Triratha (of the Jain cult), the assimilation of which leads to Moksha (salvation) or the ultimate bliss.

10. Main images of Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Balabhadra are wooden, made of Neem logs (specially selected) known as Daru Bramha.

11 .The images made of wood are believed to have their distant link with the aboriginal system of worshiping wooden poles - practiced by the hill tribes of Orissa. Likewise different tribes of native American Indians like Hopi, Navajo, Yakima, Anadarko et al adorn wooden poles called "Totem poles."

12. Temple ritual called 'chhera pahara " is observed during Rath Yatra. The local ruler / king wearing the garb of a sweeper cleans the path of Rath Yatra with a broom, symbolizing the fact that 'before lord Jagannath every body is equal.'

13. Rath Yatra (3 km ride from the main temple to the Shri Gundicha Temple) was introduced during the Ganga dynasty around 1150 AD. It was one of those earliest Hindu festivals reported to the western countries.

14. Tradition has it that new wooden Rathas (chariots) are made every year and dismantled after the Rath Yatra. From the woods dismantled, dolls of Gods are made for sale purpose.

15. The temple is a good example of fusion of Shivaism and Vaishnavism. Here Jagannath represents Vishnu, Narayana and Sri Krishna and the deities are regarded as the Bhairava (Shiva the formidable) with Vimala (the Bhairavi or the consort of Shiva) installed on the campus of the temple.

16. This temple shows the assimilation of various cults and also the tenets of Buddhism, Jainism as well as tribal worship. It is believed the temple could have been a Buddhist Stupa, containing the relics of Lord Buddha.

17. This temple has the largest functional kitchen in the world 150 feet X 100 feet X 20 feet - height with 32 rooms, 250 earthen ovens, 600 cooks (Suaras) and 400 assistants. The kitchen fire called Vaishnava Agni is never put out. Only earthen pots are used for cooking, etc. Yet another feature is they donot use modern kitchen electrical equipments for cooking, etc. Only water from the well on the kitchen premises is used for cooking.

18. Sikh ruler Maharajah Ranjit Singh of Punjab donated massive amounts of gold to the temple and he had a plan to donate the Kohinoor diamond to the temple. But the British took it away from him along with his kingdom. The Kohonoor diamond is in the Royal jewelers collections in the London tower building.

19. Every Ekadasi night, a lamp is lit atop the temple tower near Sri Chakra-wheel.

Above image:Ritual chakra and flags at the top shikhara of Puri temple of Jagannatha also related to Sudarsana chakra. The red flag(12 hand or 14 Feet denotes that Jagannath is within the building .......

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I am KN.Jayaraman, Retd Geologist, author of this blog. I have a strong passion for Ancient Indian Culture, art, architecture, etc...
I started this blog with a view to covering the above areas and also odd things related to India.
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